Edition: October 24, 2023
wellingtonrotary.ca Chartered November 22, 2002
Rotarian of the Year:
Yvonne Buys
Club Bulletin for week of October 24, 2023 This Week: Hillary Fennell (ROC Youth Services)
President's Message
I was fortunate to spend this weekend at the District 7070 Conference in Oshawa. If you’ve never attended one of these annual events you’ve missed out on a wonderful experience. For two days I was surrounded by 150 Rotarians and spouses who had come to connect with Rotarians from clubs throughout the District, to share stories and learn from one another. Smiling face after smiling face, spontaneous greetings from complete strangers, it certainly didn’t feel like “the big city” but more like walking the Main Street of Wellington.
The keynote speeches were both interesting and informative. One speaker was from OPG (Ontario Power Generation) which is a publicly owned utility that, I learned, produces power that is 30% less expensive than power produced by other generators in Ontario. OPG is committed to moving us off fossil fuels and in order to do that the “best” solution is deemed to be more nuclear, specifically installation of many small modular reactors. Another fun fact – next year is the 10th anniversary of the shutdown of the last coal-fired powerplant in Ontario, which has had a tremendous impact on our air quality. By comparison, in the past two weeks, the AQI (air quality index) in Southern Ontario was very good at 3 while in Western Pennsylvania it was around 30 and in Mumbai it was almost 200.
Another speaker was a member of the Rotary Club of Gibson, BC and the founder of the Roll A Hippo Foundation. No, that does not involve doing something rude to the world’s third-largest land animal. The Hippo Roller is a brilliant low-tech invention that is liberating millions of women and children in the developing world from spending all day collecting water for the family. Instead of making multiple trips balancing a 5-gallon bucket or jerrycan on her head a woman can instead collect 200 pounds or five times as much water at one time in a “hippo roller” - a large plastic drum with a tow-handle - that can be rolled along the ground. The time freed up by this innovation allows the women to tend a garden, the girls to attend school. Truly life-changing.
The breakout sessions were equally informative. One, focused on “A Model of Community Engagement for Crisis Response,” dealt with Cobourg’s Covid-19 vaccination effort and the local Rotary Club’s role in the establishment and operation of the mass vaccination site. In fact, what Cobourg did and what the County did with respect to mass vaccination clinics were very similar. The report by Western’s Centre for Education Research and Innovation provided a useful blueprint for positioning the community to respond effectively, before to the next crisis comes along. Some of the questions we should ask ourselves ahead of time – who are the stakeholders you would need to bring to the table? What skillset would you look for in your volunteer pool? And what strategies would you put in place to ensure your community is ready to act?
Finally, there was a very good session by the District’s Mental Health and Wellness Team. They were having some technical difficulties during their presentation so I wasn’t able to record any meaningful facts but I was assured that the presentation and toolkits will be made available soon, on the District 7070 website.
So, have I whetted your interest? Think you might consider attending at least part of next year’s conference?
Lyn McGowan
President, Rotary Club of Wellington
---------- // ----------
Last Week: Peter Campbell substituting for Juanita Kemp (Royal Canadian Legion)
Meeting Notes by Barry Davidson
Rotary Meeting Notes - Oct 17
There were 26 members in person and one on Zoom and one guest, Robynne Heeringa, to hear a representative from the Legion, but Juanita Kemp was subbed by our member, Peter Campbell, a veteran who is also a member of the Legion. Peter presented the details of the Legion's campaign to alleviate homelessness for veterans and the Legion's service dog program. The presentation material in its entirety can be viewed at the following link: LEGION-PRESENTATION
Following his presentation, Peter advocated that the Club should consider supporting the “Leave The Streets Behind” program and the “Service Dog” program as a major Rotary project. Each service dog unit costs $40,000 for the dog and the veteran. He was asked to provide information on the number of homeless veterans in PEC.
Club Business
Our newest member, Mary Camp, was inducted into the Club.
Peter asked members again to assist with Poppy Day on October 28-29 and November 3-4 by signing up on the volunteer sheets.
Lyn reminded members who supported the Rotary Foundation Walk to give her their donations.
David MacKinnon reported that the Wellness Committee is planning some information sessions in January. Lyn reported that she attended a Rotary mental Health Day webinar and has some information to pass to our Wellness Committee.
Because of our recent potluck social, Lyn canvassed the members about combining our usual November Anniversary potluck with the Christmas party, and a majority of members agreed.
Barry’s number was drawn for the 50:50, but he did not draw the ace of spades.
--------- // ----------
Welcome to Our Newest Rotarian, Mary Camp
Our newst Rotarian, Mary Camp was inducted to the club last Tuesday. Above is Mary's sponsor, Lana Whitteker, and President Lyn McGowan with Mary
Official Photo of the Rotary's Donation to PECMHF "Back the Build"
The picture was taken for the official PR release of our Club's donation to PECMHF "Back the Build" campaign from proceeds of our annual fundraiser dinner. Left to right, is Wellington Rotary Foundation Treasurer Trudy Brown, "Back the Build" campaign chair Nancy Parks, PECMH Foundation Executive Director Shannon Coull, Rotary's fundraiser dinner chair Bill Pennell, and Wellington Rotary President Lyn McGowan.
--------- // ----------
Bottle Depot Volunteers Schedule for This Week
Wednesday October 25, 2023
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: John Inwood, Ken Robertson, Jacques Michaud
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Roger Tessier, Christine Dimitris, Dave Robinet
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Trudy Brown, Phyo Kyi, Phil McMillan (FoR)
------ // ------
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
-none-
Member Anniversaries
-none-
------ // ------
Rotary Grace
O Lord and giver of all good
We thank thee for our day food
May Rotary friends and Rotary ways
Help us to serve thee all our days.
------ // ------
Four Way Test
Of the things we think, say, and do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and better
FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
------ // ------
Rotary Song
R-O-T-A-R-Y, that spells Rotary.
R-O-T-A-R-Y, is known on land and sea.
From north to south, and east to west,
They profit most who serve the best,
R-O-T-A-R-Y, that spells Rotary.
.jpg)
.png)
